Successful Weight Loss After Pregnancy
Most women will lose anywhere from 10-14 pounds within the first 2 weeks of delivery. This weight may be attributed primarily to the loss of excess fluid in the body, the baby’s weight, the placenta and amniotic fluid. Some women might lose a little bit less, and others might lose a little bit more.
Common Sense Approach To Weight Loss
Ok so everyone gains weight while they are pregnant. This is perfectly normal. It is also perfectly normal for a woman to want to lose weight after pregnancy. We have established this much at this point in time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with aspiring to get yourself back into shape right after your pregnancy, in fact I certainly encourage it!
Post Pregnancy Weight Loss
Okay, so you’ve survived pregnancy and you have a baby…yet you feel like a blimp! The fact is, some women simply do not know how to go about taking off the excess pounds, especially when it seemed so fun putting them on but there is hope.
The Importance Of Setting Goals
One of the best things you can do is set some goals for yourself. Goal setting is an important aspect of any successful weight loss strategy. The type of goals you set will depend on the amount of weight you have to lose and your personal fitness goals and desires.
Breast Feeding To Aid Weight Loss
Women who breast feed generally will burn up to 500 additional calories per day to produce milk for their babies. Most healthcare providers recommend however, that breastfeeding women consume an additional 500 calories to compensate for this burn.
Finding Time To Exercise After Pregnancy
One problem most new mothers will report is that they don’t feel that they have enough time to exercise after birth. This is a complaint among just about anyone who has ever attempted to set up a routine exercise program, not just women who have given birth!
Abdominal’s And Other Exercises
Most women are concerned with reshaping their newly formed ‘pooch’ after delivery. You know the sagging area of skin that used to resemble your stomach? The good news is you can restore your abdomen to its pre-pregnancy luster, or at least a semblance thereof. It will take a lot of hard work however on your part.
Exercises For Mom And Baby
Most women will benefit from exercising with their baby. Not only does this help keep baby calm and content, you have the added benefit of carrying around a few extra pounds of weight which will improve your muscle endurance.
Postpartum Dietary Guidelines
The first way to do this is to eliminate the word diet temporarily from your vocabulary. This is particularly important if you are breastfeeding. You should consider yourself on a journey toward healthy eating not dieting. Some women . will be able to breast feed successfully without adding any extra calories to their diet. Be sure that you ask your physician before attempting this, as you don’t want to affect your milk supply.
Measuring Your Weight Loss Progress
For some women the best way to keep track of their progress is to document it. Some women will actually not lose weight initially but will start building muscle when they start exercising. Because of this it is important that you not simply check the scale, but also take your measurements and note how well your clothes are fitting.
Weight Gain in Pregnancy
Can women overeat during pregnancy? This is something most expectant mothers don’t even consider. After all a pregnant woman needs to eat. She’s not just feeding herself anymore; she’s eating for two or in some cases more.
Weight Loss After Pregnancy – The Final Word
One point can’t be emphasized enough. Weight loss takes time after pregnancy. A sensible goal would be to lose 1-2 pounds per week, particularly if you are looking for the weight you gained to stay off.
